Xmas auto care gift recommendations for my Dad...

roguegeek

roguegeek

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I thought this would be a fun little thread that people could contribute to and, in turn, help me work through a little puzzle.

Some background. My 70 year old dad loves cars, just retired this year, and has nothing but time. He use to get all of his vehicles detailed from by a friend and local detailer, but that person moved to the east coast. Now, he just gets things done at a local car wash and I squirm every time I hear about it. I would be going over and helping him on the weekends, but I'm 400 miles away now, so that doesn't work. When I did live closer, he enjoyed coming over and helping me work on his and my cars, so I know the interest is there.

I was thinking about putting together a little car care package for him as an Xmas present. I could do this with hand picked products or I could potentially grab a pre-combined set from AG. Doesn't matter to me and it doesn't have to be comprehensive to cover all aspects of auto care. Emphasis should be on exterior products that are easy to work with and value vs giving the best possible results. Remember, he's 70. I have an extra PCXP, backing plates, and pads that will be a part of this package, so work around that.

Here's a list I have so far.

  • DA: Porter Cable 7424 XP with backing plates
  • Pads: Lake Country CCS 5.5" (orange, white, black)
  • Wash: ???
  • Decon: Nanoskin Autoscrub 6" pad and sponge
  • Compound: ???
  • Polish: ???
  • Wax/Sealant: ???
  • AIO: ???
  • Quick Detailer: ???
  • Additional tools: ??? (microfiber, spray bottles, etc...)

Want your thoughts on it. What could get added? What could get removed? Think about products that can do more than just one task such as Wolfgang Uber Rinseless Wash (rinseless, waterless, clay lube, and quick detailer all in one).

Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks!
 
I usually recommend HD Speed to casual detailers/hobbyists who want to have some fun with a polisher but don't want to worry about compounding and then polishing and switching between a variety of different pads. If he is taking his car to the local car wash, he probably doesn't care too much about having a 100% swirl free finish that would impress only elite detailing enthusiasts with a good eye for spotting defects. He might honestly not even be able to tell the difference between an HD Speed correction and a 2 step correction. Not to mention it can save a lot of time and physical effort doing a one step. Maybe throw in a nice rinseless or waterless wash product like UWW+. A tire/trim dressing like PERL would be a cool addition. Hydro2 is another fun product to use that my customers and friends all seem to get a kick out of when I show it to them. Whenever I gift detailing products, I always try to keep in mind that not everyone is a perfectionist like ourselves. Most people just want to have some easy fun making their car a little cleaner and shinier :)
 
haris300 said:
I usually recommend HD Speed to casual detailers/hobbyists who want to have some fun with a polisher but don't want to worry about compounding and then polishing and switching between a variety of different pads. If he is taking his car to the local car wash, he probably doesn't care too much about having a 100% swirl free finish that would impress only elite detailing enthusiasts with a good eye for spotting defects. He might honestly not even be able to tell the difference between an HD Speed correction and a 2 step correction. Not to mention it can save a lot of time and physical effort doing a one step. Maybe throw in a nice rinseless or waterless wash product like UWW+. A tire/trim dressing like PERL would be a cool addition. Hydro2 is another fun product to use that my customers and friends all seem to get a kick out of when I show it to them. Whenever I gift detailing products, I always try to keep in mind that not everyone is a perfectionist like ourselves. Most people just want to have some easy fun making their car a little cleaner and shinier :)
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Yup. This is exactly the kind of suggestions I'm looking for.
 
I have to ask you.....

Does your dad have any interest or knowledge regarding how to do paint correction? Most people don't. They just want the wash and wax experience.

Does he even know what "swirls" or defects are? Most people don't - and can't really even see them on their own vehicles.

If your trying to push polishing paint on him - forget it it. It's really hard work and can be tedious - most "normal" type people just won't care enough to invest the time and effort.

If he knows what this stuff is (or actually wants to learn about it), the Wolfgang polishes are pretty easy to use. I know they cost a lot.... Optimum lotion polishes are easy to use as well.

As for QD, RW, WW, etc - nothing is more proven than UWW+. I wouldn't stretch it enough to call it a "spray wax" per se - but it does leave a nice beading finish.

If he just wants to "do something" to the car to get it started... You could get any shampoo from AGO and it would be good.

A good paint cleaner / glaze may be a good place to start. Prima Amigo and Hydro Max are the easiest and best stuff out there. I'm not telling you what my latest and greatest purchase is here - I'm telling you what's the easiest to use stuff that gives a lot of satisfaction.

If you want a convention "wax" - get him a tub of Nattys Blue or P21S Concours. Both are excellent with Amigo and are easy to use. Amigo is a product I highly recommend with any "wax" or sealant.

I wouldn't mess with Perl or Hydro2 for the casual user. If you want a fool proof dressing - get Poorboys Bold N Bright. A spray wax? Prima Hydro.

I don't get any kick back from any company. I've tried a LOT of conventional products - and these are the easiest to use IMHO.
 
Cool! :props:

Pads. The more pads the better. Clean pad, better cut, less time polishing.

Compound. Maybe a compound that is easy to work with and cleans out of the pads easily? This will also be easier if he switches pads more often.

Good degreaser/pad cleaner. 3D Orange 88 degreaser

Wash. Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash

Wax/Sealant. Optimum Car Wax, Optimum Opti-Seal. Both quick and easy. Or Souverän is lovely to apply if you want to give him a fine buttery paste wax. Or Meguiars waxes and spray waxes.

AIO. Optimum Poly-Seal. Cleans well, good cut, should have good protection, long working time.

Quick Detailer. Whatever waterless wash or rinseless you choose at various ratios for this, clay lube, and light washes.

Tools. Wheel brushes.

Detailing cart

Seat with wheels

Mike Philips book
 
I would just buy him bulk car soap, glaze, and a good wax. Mans retired and in his 70's so I am assuming he would rather drive it then spend all his time polishing the paint. Best thing I would do (and I am getting this done myself for my pops) is buy him products that will minimize wash induced swirls (mitt, quality soap) and an easy on/off glaze/wax combo. Then when you have time to visit you give it a full detail and he just maintains it. From AG Poorboys makes a good combo, Clearkote (outside of AG) makes a good glaze/wax combo and both work well in the sun.
 
roguegeek said:
He use to get all of his vehicles detailed from
by a friend and local detailer...

Now, he just gets things done at a local car
wash and I squirm every time I hear about it.

I was thinking about putting together a little
car care package for him as an Xmas present

Billy Baldone said:
Where does he live?
roguegeek said:
Los Angeles area.
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Taking into consideration the above information:

I'll suggest that another Detailer living near
your Father could be hired to take the place
of the former Detailer. As your Christmas gift:
You could pay for the first go 'round.

That way there'll be no need for him to go
to the swirl-o-matics; or, begin the task of
detailing vehicles by himself---after years
of not doing so.

Starting a thread, wherein the request for
the services of such a Professional Detailer
is included, is a good starting point.


Bob
 
roguegeek said:
I thought this would be a fun little thread that people could contribute to and, in turn, help me work through a little puzzle.

Some background. My 70 year old dad loves cars, just retired this year, and has nothing but time. He use to get all of his vehicles detailed from by a friend and local detailer, but that person moved to the east coast. Now, he just gets things done at a local car wash and I squirm every time I hear about it. I would be going over and helping him on the weekends, but I'm 400 miles away now, so that doesn't work. When I did live closer, he enjoyed coming over and helping me work on his and my cars, so I know the interest is there.

I was thinking about putting together a little car care package for him as an Xmas present. I could do this with hand picked products or I could potentially grab a pre-combined set from AG. Doesn't matter to me and it doesn't have to be comprehensive to cover all aspects of auto care. Emphasis should be on exterior products that are easy to work with and value vs giving the best possible results. Remember, he's 70. I have an extra PCXP, backing plates, and pads that will be a part of this package, so work around that.

Here's a list I have so far.

  • DA: Porter Cable 7424 XP with backing plates
  • Pads: Lake Country CCS 5.5" (orange, white, black)
  • Wash: ???
  • Decon: Nanoskin Autoscrub 6" pad and sponge
  • Compound: ???
  • Polish: ???
  • Wax/Sealant: ???
  • AIO: ???
  • Quick Detailer: ???
  • Additional tools: ??? (microfiber, spray bottles, etc...)

Want your thoughts on it. What could get added? What could get removed? Think about products that can do more than just one task such as Wolfgang Uber Rinseless Wash (rinseless, waterless, clay lube, and quick detailer all in one).

Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Being that he is 70,I'm thinking simplicity.The whole decon and polishing thing may exert is energy quickly.maybe hydro 2 or reload spray and some stoners in aerosol and tire and trim dressings in aerosol.If he can manage application and removal of a sealant I would go with 4 star paint protection ,it's so effortlessly to apply and remove.as far as microfibers stick with a not so plush one there a pita cause they have a lot of drag.griots 3 inch polisher maybe a candidate for easy application of wax or sealer and decon disk.
 
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